Later Gangas Mandali Thousand

Author(s): Nagarajaiah Hampa
Publisher: Ankita Pustak

Page 83

40/The Later Gangas: Mandali-Thousand
ing, the bulk of the population seems to be Jains. So many basadis, inumerable gifts to the maintenance of those Jinālayas attest the devotion of the Mandalinaḍ administration; we will shortly revert to this subject under the title 'religion'.
In the official hierarchy, mahā-prabhu Sindagāvuṇḍa, nā!prabhus Hiriyappa, Nemaveggade, Hoysala Goyisetti, chief of forests, the oilrnen merchant community, as well as in the army, the Jains were in majority. They proved true and efficient to the trust and the rest of the community willingly acknowledged the justice of it. With due regard to the catholicity of the Mandali lords, they were also, along with the enlightened Jaina ascetics, equally responsible for the wide spread of the Nirgrantha creed. But the Jains were not fanatics. They loved and respected the religions of others as their own dharmma: Hoysala Goydi (Goyi)setți in Edadore and his two sons, worshippers of the feet of Jinendra, on hearing the recital of Śiva-dharmma. Purāṇa-kathā-prasanga, made a grant of land to god Siddheśvara. Matrimonial alliances between the Jains and the (Vira) Śaivas was not barred. All these details will be taken up again at the appropriate place.
Although no local quarrels are registered, some stray instances of the turbulance of a chieftain leading to a village being attacked, its cattle being taken away, the local people valiantly defending themselves and the bravery of some village heroes - are reported from the contemporary records of the Mandalinaḍ. No information is forthcoming about observing the rite of sati.
The women of elite class in the Maṇḍalināḍ were more religious minded, dedicated to the traditional rituals. There is only a single record of a lady skilled in fine arts of music and dancing. She is none other than Bacaladevi, the spouse of the king, highly accomplished in performing arts. She displayed her proficiency in dancing to the admiration of her husband (Sh. 97. 1103 p. 10708). The way in which Bacaladevi fascinated Bhujabala Ganga Permmāḍideva was like a play. Highly pleased, the king, who was her husband, gave her the befitting title 'pātra-jagadale', head of the world of dancers, along with the gift of a village Bannikere,